Antislipping device



J. T. WILLIAMS ETAL ANTISLIPPI'NG DEVICE June 6, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1947 Inventors JAMES T. WILUAMS jttarney June 6, 1950 J. r. WILLIAMS Erm. 2,510,451

ANTISLIPPING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1947 F RESP.

Attorney Patented June 6, 1950 AN TIS DIPPIN G DEVICE James Thomas-Williams, Minneapolimamuiarle Frltiese, St. Paul,

Qunvlnventipn, relates? teaaimprovements in: an

antiqeslippingv delliCmwhi'Chdsiadaptdr forfiattachmenli-ttc as vehicles wheehlto ;provide'-.traction* in mud: on: sncw;-.: or fwheni'ithi vehicle is traveling 1 Glaimi (Cl: .l1'52- -225 the operator note canlyr to eas-ilwmount end secure-the structureionsthe wheel but 3130" makes this operation relatively-simple.

Another. feature= which is of: considerable imoven'icyrsurfiaces: Im-panticulantiterelaltes'to ania 5 portance is? that/anadjustable extension;v which anti' slippingztdeviemsformed of at phirality of members angularly disposed with relationtti-zeach other aboutzlatvehioldiwheek andieach' having a traicti'ont-prodhcingazsuifiace their-11s adapted to constitutes :a connectionbetween-hthe lever mechanism I and. the cooperating-1. warm constructed for adjustment of the lengths ointhe arm soas to compensate for variat-ionsimthe diameterof extendsl-aterallwomerztheipehipherynofrthe-wheelfi the wheel andstire; and 3150-7120; compensate-for so astto-xprovide' severaktmctidnqxrodu-cing *surfaces= at spaced? apart=distasnces rabout thel -peripherymf: arcwheell: 'Imexparticulerefeatures of the 5 device: isfthat amsimpnmzedii 'locking: mechwea'r of'the'tirep An object of oun invention is toprovide an:anti=s1ippingidevice forraavehiole=whee1 which includes as a, locking mechanism, a lever-which anismlisprovi'ded -fonfsecuring:the; device on'l'the "is! movable in: 2.1 plane that is trensverse'tof the wheel: and:.provlsionsis: also made for adjusting theirlength ofroneeoflithwxms se'a's; to'compensaatei for miner fvaflationmdmthe"diameter of a, wheel: sotiithat the devicermaw at-"allz timesnbe madevsecure against slippagelonrthe wheelcthei art ne'lzaltirig to-structures of -this generab natumitherei lriave beemnumerous forms on. devices"; adttptedsfi I attachment *to vehicle wheels to'providei tract-10min snow or mud or" on icy'surfacesi' but theserstmctures:have not been particularly-easv itbrimount ron the'"wheels' nor have they been' capable of adfiustment s0'= as to provide -compensetidn :fbr verientions in the dismeteificttthevwheels; Whichi eonditibn may be plane of therwheeh- Another object:is tof-provide-anr anti -slipping device for anvehicle .wheehwhich-rincludes-means o for adjustment 'of the -deviceetoxrthe extent of compensating? for minor-variations in; the -diameter ofthewhee1.

' Another object? i's toi.provide in: combination with 2m anti-slipping; devicm of the" class:- described; a locking leven whichvimmovable-in a plane transverse r to' 'the planet of= the-wheel on which the" device is to hemountednnd 'a; latching-mechanism which is cooperablehetwem the lever and "a; movable arm;

A further Obit-301.7 iSftfi pfOVideELn anti-slipping brought"aboutflby wariettims in: size or degree -sodevice for wheeled wvehicles which"is formed of of"wear' 'oi:" the'i tiresi: The presenti'tnienticn is a; continuation: imparticfiour depending-applicatibn s'eri 7022200, filed October 9; 19456, now ahendonetn a" central member whlclr supports ar-plurality of arms; one of which is: slidable on? the central member; togetherc'with a: lever connected between thecentral memfier and th'e movable'arm,

In thepresent inventiom a plurality of anguss and wherein the connection"between the" lever larly 'disposed anms entend ii'om 'a entral "member-"to the-peri hewcf themheeleat space'dapert distencesemduntmg tc approximateiy 120? One ricr ticn of the centrai memler'isi'ecnstructed for which is operative twseeurely' rip the wheel anfinmventkeny slippage wlth'remtich to the and" the arm is adjiistazbltd compensate for variations in the diameter ofthe'= wheel.

other and fiirthe'r objects: will' become apparent from the following description and claim,

slid'ably'holding onezofthe arms forflon'gitudinaluo' andih the appended drawingsin which:

Fig: 1"is a; side elevatlonef a vehicle'- wheel showing the device fdrming the present"iiiventien' mounted on the whe'ely Fig; 2"is"'an" enlarged'vie'w'in frontelevation wheel; A leverzmechmsm -is supporte he cf an operative-"portion of'the device? central" member ann is connectedzthrough acornpoumi linkage tb the movetble arm forlo'cking the arm in a secured positiom A particular featurexof the leven mechanism iszthat it is movable transverse to their plane cfr the wheel and the central 'memberqth-us wliereathe? central membet-and the sevemi ar ms-extendlin"a plane parallento the side ofrthe wheel; the levermechanism is: movable inear transverse planersand i permits? lie-611i Fig; zi andi,

Fig; 3 is" a sectional detail-view taken on the lines 3'3'-of* Fig; 2;

' Fig. 4 iss sidelview of-the structure shown in Fig. 2% seen fromthe right side'thereof with the manually operable -1ever mechelnism' shown in a; raised position",

Fig; 5"is' a -sectionarview takenon the lines 5 5 "of Fig.'2-;

Fig: 6- is a sectional: view takerron the lines Fig. '7 shows a modified form of traction surface.

Referring now to the several views of the drawing, the invention will be explained in detail.

In Fig. 1 general reference numeral 10 indicates an anti-slipping device mounted on a conventional automobile wheel ll carrying a conventional pneumatic tire l2. A device of this nature is applied generally to the rear wheels of an automotive vehicle when the vehicle must travel through deep snow, soft mud, or on icy surfaces, and is intended to give suitable traction to the wheels when traveling is dificult.

Referring now to Fig. 2, is shown a central member 14 formed of three extended portions l6,

I8 and 20 which diverge from each other in angles of approximately 120. As will be evident in Fig. 2, the extensions 18 and 20 terminate in curved extremities 2| and 22 and are of shorter length than extension I 6.

As is partially shown in Fig. 2, and shown in full in Fig. 1, a pair of arms 24 and 26 are pivot-s.

ally mounted on members l8 and 28 through the medium of fastening members 28 and 30 which extend through the upper surface of each of the arms and extend through the extension [8 and 28 to a supplementary supporting member 29 on the under surface of central member 14. The inner ends of members 24 and 26 are out on an angle and are each provided with a flat end surface 3| and 32 for engaging abutments 33 and 34 on member L4 when the arms 24 and 26 are in their properly extended position as shown in Fig. 1.

The extension l6, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4-6, consists of a channel member 36 within which, and in slidable relation thereto, is a movable arm 38 which, as shown in Figs. and 6, is of channeled shape in cross dimension, but which terminates on its inner or lower end in a fiat tongue 4!) as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. At its outer end, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, arm 38 is joined by rivets 42 to an arcuate shaped portion 44 which extends laterally across the periphery of tire i2 and carries on its outer surface as a tractionproducing means, a chain 46 or a plurality of lugs 48, shown in Fig. '7, or any other form of traction-producing element. Arm 38. as shown in Fig. 2. is provided with an elongated slot .9 within which is a suitable rivet or short bolt 58 that extends through and is secured in member 36. The cooperative relationship between slot 49 and rivet 58 is to permit longitudinal movement of the arm 38 with relation to member 35 for a. distance equal to the length of slot 49. formed as a part of arm 38, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5 is a boss 52 having an aperture 54 therein.

A lever mechanism indicated by the general reference numeral 55 consists of a bifurcated portion 58 having extended therefrom a rod 68 tar-- minating in an enlargement 62. The bifurcated portion 58 of the lever mechanism is pivotallv mounted on a pin 64 which extends between a pair of bosses 66 and 68 that are formed integral with channel member 38. A pair of links 1!! and- Also the effective length of connecting member 18 and the point at which the lever mechanism becomes operative to move arm 38. As will be explained hereinafter, the purpose of this adjustment is to provide compensation for minor variations in the diameter of tire l2 so that the arcuate portion 44 will always snugly fit across the outer peripheral surface of tire [2.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and La latching mechanism indicated by the general reference numeral 8A, consists of a ring member 86 that is slidably mounted on the outer surface of rod 66. Extending from member 86 is a pawl 88, which as shown in Fig. 3, engages in a notch of the tongue shaped extension 40 of arm 38. A compression spring 92 is positioned between member 86 and the enlargement 62 of rod 60 and serves to bias member 86 away from enlargement 62 and to hold the pawl 88 in engagement with notch 98 when the lever mechanism is in its secured position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A pair of finger holds 94 and 96 extend laterally from either side of member 86 and provide a manual means of gripping member 86 to move the same against the compression of spring 92 when the latching mechanism is to be released from its secured position.

The operation of the device will now be explained in detail. Referring first to Fig. 1, is shown the device ID in its operative position on tire l2. When the device In is to be mounted on wheel H and its cooperating tire [2, the lever mechanism 56 is in an unlocked or raised position such as is indicated'in Fig. 4, and the two arms 24 and 26 are rotated on their pivots28 and 80 to a point where they are substantially parallel with extension l6 and its several cooperating parts. The arcuate portion 44 of arm 38 is placed about the upper surface of tire l2 and extends laterally thereto, the arms 24 and '26 which also have arcuate extremities similar to portion 44 are moved downwardly until their arcuate extremities encompass tire l2 and the angular portions 3| and 32 engage the abutments 33 and 34. Thereafter, lever mechanism 56 which is in the position shown in Fig. 4, is rotated through an arc of a circle whose plane is transverse to the plane of wheel i i and also the plane in which the central member is and its several parts extend. Thus, it will. be understood that the lever mechanism 56 is provided with an arcuate movement which is probably the most effective means of locking by manual operation, since the operator who is standing or kneeling in front of the wheel, as seen in Fig. 1, exerts a downward and inward movement of the lever mechanism 56 which is effectively aided by a substantial amount of the weight of the operator's body. The nut 82 is adusted on the threaded portion 80 of the connecting member 18 so that when the lever mechanism 56 is in its downward position, as shown in Figs. 1 or 2, the arcuate portion 44 of arm 38 is snugly fitting laterally across the upper surface of tire I2. If the fit is not a tight fit, such as might be occasioned by either a variation in the diameter of the wheel structure or which might be caused by wear of the outer surface of tire l2, nut 82 is adjusted to bring about a tight fit, and preferably. the lever mechanism is moved to its unlatched position as to assure this operation taking place without much difficulty. Thereafter, the lever mechanism 56 is rotated on its pivot 64 causing the links 18 and 12 to draw the connecting member 18 and arm 38 downward to the point where the arcuate portion 44 firmly engages the tire, at which position the lever mechanism 56 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the pawl 88 of the latching device 84 becomes engaged in the notch 90 01 the tongued extremity 48 of arm 38. In this position, the several arms 24, 26 and 38 are rigidand their several traction producing surfaces 46 or 48 will provide the necessary traction to enable the wheels to move through either snow or mud or on ice. To remove the device from the wheel, the operator places his fingers on the extensions 94 and 96 and pulls the ring 86 downwardly, which is accompanied by a slight inner pressure on the rod 68, bringing about a disengagement between pawl 88 and the notch 90 of tongue 40. Whereafter the lever mechanism 56 is rotated in a reverse direction to the position shown in Fig. 4, and the arms 24 and 26 are rotated upwardly so that the several arms are simultaneously removed from the tire adjacent its upper surface.

One major advantage of our invention is that the lever, which is utilized for locking the structure on the wheel, when in a position ready to be tightened, projects horizontally from the wheel and thus permits the operator to exert a much greater force during the locking action. This arrangement through a compound linkage exerts a force on the arm which is parallel with the line of movement of the movable arm.

Another major advantage is that the adjustable feature of the locking mechanism permits the structure to be adjusted to compensate for minor variations in the size of the tire and thus the device is always capable of being securely locked in an immovable manner on the wheel.

As numerous changes may be apparent 'to those skilled in the art, our invention is not limited by the single disclosure, but to the full extent of the appended claim.

We claim:

An anti-slipping device which is adapted for mounting on a vehicle wheel, comprising a central member formed with a, plurality of angular extensions, one of said extensions being of greater length than the remainder and formed with grooved lateral edges, a movable arm held in sliding engagement within the grooved edges of said extension, a lever supported on said one extension and connected with said arm for linearly moving said arm in one direction with respect to said one extension, and a latching device carried on the outer end of said lever and adapted for engagement with said arm for locking said arm when the same has been moved to one of its linear extremities.

JAMES THOMAS WILLIAMS. KARL F. RIESE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,882,376 Weber Oct. 11, 1932 2,174,345 Worthing Sept. 26, 1939 2,429,738 Zimmer Oct. 28, 1947 2,453,611 Zimmer Nov. 9, 1948 2,456,544 Varner Dec. 14, 1948 

